Veteran television news anchor Catherine Kasavuli has passed away after a short battle with cervical cancer.
The news about her demise was announced by acting Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) Managing Director Samuel Maina on Friday.
Kasavuli, who was Kenya’s first female news anchor, died on Thursday night while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where she was admitted on October 26th.
In November, colleagues and friends in the media industry appealed for blood donation for Kasavuli after she was admitted to the hospital’s private wing.
Kasavuli, 60, is credited with breaking the glass ceiling for female TV journalists in the country. The deceased began her career in 1980 as a radio continuity announcer at the Voice of Kenya, which was later renamed KBC.
In 1985, Kasavuli switched over to television at the State-owned broadcaster and worked for two years without any prior professional training before enrolling in the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication.
Kasavuli joined the founding group of KTN, Kenya’s first privately owned television station, in March 1990. She changed the station’s pre-recorded format and was the first anchor to broadcast live.
After working for KTN for 17 years, Kasavuli left the network in 2007 to work for Royal Media Services’ Citizen TV, where she later held the position of corporate affairs manager.
In 2015, Kasavuli retired from the spotlight to work behind the scenes but she returned to KBC in 2020, where she hosted the Legend Edition.
President Ruto led Kenyans in mourning the passing on of veteran TV news broadcaster, whom he described as a cheerful, articulate and intelligent news anchor who took to television with unprecedented flair.
“Her pleasant smile, clear steady voice, and elegance made her a welcome presence and reassuring bearer of news to Kenyan living rooms for decades. Countless Kenyans watched her with great admiration and many children grew to emulate her,” said Ruto.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kasavuli was a great role model and mentor to many women journalists in the country.
“Her commitment and diligence in her work at then Voice of Kenya (VOK) where she started her broadcasting assignments made her stand out as a talented newscaster and she went on to become a household name,” Uhuru said.
RIP Kasavuli. I hope NO…
RIP Kasavuli. I hope NO Quack doctor Attended to You. Kenya has so Many of Such doctors.
It is heart warming,and…
It is heart warming,and pleasing to read about all those out pouring accolades,and praises.All well placed,and earned.Her death should also be a wake up call for us to do something about hospital debts that are left behind when aloved one passes away.In Catherine’s case, I would hope that she had life insurance to help with the debts left behind.I say this mindful that afew days ago she had publicly requested assistance with her mounting medical expenses.Some times it takes adeath like this to shake up things. So let’s hope that the government will come up with a solution to this”menace” of harassing the grief stricken with demands for unpaid medical bills.In this vein, I thank Sakaja for giving some patients relief during this holiday season.
So sad. Back in the early,…
So sad. Back in the early, mid seventies and eighties, Ms Kasavuli teamed up with her VOK colleagues namely Kazungu Katana, Msalame, Jeff Mwangemi, Abdul Hag, John Obongo Jr, and others to entertain the youththrough the popular ”Yours For The Asking”program. I was one of those fans. I vividly recall how we used to buy greeting cards from VOK offices and have them read over the radio. I was a popular guy during that program and it was a great joy being told over and over again that my name featured in the program. The VOK crew, that Kasavuli, dominated the souls of every youth those days. She changed the lives of most of us, and raised our low esteem in some ways. Thats the way I will always remember her. Unlike some people who spend most of their lives demeaning or looking down ot hers, Catherine and her crew made us forget the claws of poverty that was visible in most of us, then. Rest in peace, Girl, and may the heavenly Angels welcome and embrace you in your new home where pain, suffering, hate, poverty etc is unheard of.
You forgot murderer Tunju…
You forgot murderer Tunju who was a great radio & TV anchor/presenter before he joined politics which enabled him to murder adulterer Ogunda with impunity.
RIP Catherine Kasavuli. You…
RIP Catherine Kasavuli. You were a trailblazer in an occupation that used to be dominated by men.
RIP ?
We all gonna die soon…
RIP ?
We all gonna die soon rather than later! Humble yourselves
Very sad I first got to…
Very sad I first got to watch her on KTN in the early 1990s she was beautiful and delightful to watch.May she rest in peace condolences to her family,friends and fans.
RIP, SISTER, RIP..
We loved…
RIP, SISTER, RIP..
We loved you but loved you more.
No question me when I reap the best crop from my kitchen garden, why would be questioning God?
Most of us grew up watching you on TV, and loved this young girl who became a force in Kenya.
To all my mwakilishi family, happy new year.